Electronic musical reed instruments



Aug. 9, 1960 J. JACOBSON ELECTRONIC MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1959 INVENTOR. J ACOBSON 1950 J. JAcoBsoN 2,948,178

ELECTRONIC MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS Filed March 51. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 66 77 ea 64 m 34 '73 v 75 M 71 4 71 l 28 g 25 3% xx 69 69 l v 22 30 2,: 7O 8 W; 1" II I 6 26 INVENTOR'. JESSE JACOBSON gww ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1960 JAcoBsoN v ELECTRONIC MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 31, 1959 E Chi/62 DC BIAS SOURCE AMP DC BlAs souncs NVENTOR.

LJACOBSON IF U jw m A my JESSE United States Patent ELECTRONIC MUSICAL REED INSTRUMENTS Jesse Jacobson, 108-38 63rd Ave., Forest Hills, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 803,166

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-115) This invention relates to the art of musical instruments and particularly concerns an electronic musical reed instrument.

According to the invention there is provided a reed instrument such as an accordion, concertina, reed organ or harmonica, in which one or more coils of wire surround the several reeds. Each reed includes a tongue made of permanently magnetized steel. When the reeds are vibrated voltages are induced in the coil or coils surrounding them. An amplifier and loud-speaker is connected to the coils or coils so that the induced voltages are reproduced as musical tones by the loud-speaker. In addition to the tones produced by the loud-speaker, the instrument produces its normal musical tones. The tones emitted by the loud-speaker and produced by the instrument blend acoustically in the surrounding air medium. The combined tones have unusual acoustic qualities. Taken alone the sounds emitted by the loudspeaker have a flute-like or sustained quality. The tone quality of the instrument per se is a reedy one as produced acoustically. The combined tones have a smoothness and mellowness imposed on a reedy tone base which is most unusual and aurally appealing.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide the reeds of a reed instrument with one or more inductance coils for producing sounds electromagnetically in addition to the normal sounds produced by the instrument while being played.

It is a further object to provide the inductance coil or coils with key operated switch means for abruptly cutting off the electromagnetically produced sounds when the keys of the instrument are released.

It is another object to provide a reed instrument having permanently magnetized reeds adapted to produce their normal sounds in the instrument, with one or more inductance coils surrounding the reeds, the coils being connected to an amplifier and loud-speaker juxtaposed to the instrument so that electromagnetically produced sounds emitted by the loud-speaker when the instrument is played blend with the normal sounds of the instrument.

A still further object is to provide a reed instrument of the character described provided with means for selectively cutting off or sustaining electromagnetically produced sounds of the reeds.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a portion of a reed Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the instrument as viewed from line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a sound box which may be used in the instrument of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a sound box structure showing a modified coil arrangement.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an individual reed plate with a coil wound around it according to one form of the invention.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating various circuits which may be employed in the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a sound box 20 having a body rectangular in plan and tapering from end to end as is common in accordions and similar reed instruments. On one side wall, wall 22, thereare two spaced series of valve assemblies 24 and 26 adapted to open and close two series of air holes 28, 30 in the wall 22 as best shown in Fig. 2. Each valve assembly includes a narrow fiat plate pivotally mounted on a bracket 32 carrying spring means 33 for holding the valve plate closed over the hole controlled thereby. A felt disk 34 is carried by each valve plate to close the controlled hole and effectively block air passage therethrough. When the valve plates are open, air will be forced through the open holes in one direction or the other by conventional means (not shown) such as bellows, an electrically driven pump, a compressed air tank, or the like. The valve assemblies for the holes 28 and 30 are operated by metal rods or bars 36, 38 respectively, attached between the valve plates and the white and black keys 40, 42, respectively. A shaft or rod 44 is rotatably journaled in bearings 45, 46 secured to wall 22 by screws 47. A coil spring 48 encircles one end of shaft 44 and has its outer end secured to wall 22 and its inner end secured to rod 44 so that the rod is turned against bias or tension in this spring which will tend to restore the rod to the position shown in the drawing. The rod carries a series of short fingers 50 which extend radially therefrom and engage underneath bars 36. The fingers are angled and serve as camming elements to turn the rod 44 through a short angular distance when white keys 40 are depressed, and valve assemblies 24 operated.

The keys are retracted or restored by individual retractile springs under the-keys in the conventional manner, the tension of such springs being greater than the tension of spring 48.

Longer angular camming fingers 52 secured to rod 44 are provided for engaging under bars 38 to pivot the rod 44 when the black keys 42 are selectively depressed while the associated valve assemblies 26 are operated. An electrical contact member 54 may be mounted on rod 44 and normally in contact with a fixed spring electrical contact 55 mounted on wall 22. The contacts 54, 55 constitute a single pole, single throw, normally closed switch 56 which is opened whenever any one key or several keys are depressed. The switch contacts are in circuit with inductance coils 60, 62, shown to best advantage in Figs. 2 and 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noted that recesses 64 are provided in the top and bottom of the sound box 20 in which are disposed the coils 60, 62. The coils are arranged peripherally around the inner sides of walls 22, 23, and 25, 27 of the sound box. The coils may be enclosed in shields 65 which prevent the coils from picking up undesired stray, spurious electrical radiation. The coils are formed of insulated wire. Layers of wax 66 retain the coils on adjacent inner walls 68. Each coil surrounds a plurality of slotted reed plates 70, each plate carrying two metal reeds 72, one reed being on each side of the plate. A flexible leather strip 73 overlays the slot 74 in the plate in front of which the vibratable reed is secured; see Fig. 7.

' A pin 75 mounts each reed at one end to the plate. The strips 73 serve as air valve members to permit air to pass in only one direction through slots 74. Adhesive 76 shown in Fig. 5 secures one end of each strip to the plate. The plates are held in spaced array over rectangular holes 77 in the inner walls 68, by the wax 66.- Fig. 4 shows the sound box 20 free of the superstructure shown in Fig. l in order to expose the holes 28 and 30.

Each hole 28 and 30 opens into its own sound chamber Gor C which are separated by interior walls 69 and 71 from adjacent chambers. Thus, each reed plate is assoeiated'with its own sound chamber, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

It will be noted that there are two series of plates 70 on opposite sides of the sound box, with a separate coil 60 or 62 associated with each series or group of plates.

Fig; 8 illustrates the circuit which is employed with the reed assembly described above. Only coil 60 is illustrated in association with one group of reed plates 70 and reeds 72. It will be understood that coil 62 is connected in a similar manner as is shown for coil 60 and in parallel therewith as indicated in the diagram. Each reed 7-2 is a permanently magnetized steel member. The ends of the coils 60 and 62 are connected to the input of an amplifier 82 whose output is connected to a loud-speaker 83. Switch 56 is shown in normally closed position connected across the amplifier input to short circuit the coils '60, 62 and the amplifier input.

In operation of this circuit, switch 56 will be opened each time one of the keys 40 or 42 is played or depressed so that the instrument will produce sounds acoustically and at the same time will cause the induction of alter nating voltages in the coils. The Voltages are induced because the magnetized reeds vibrate in the air stream passing through the associated sound chamber. Induced voltages are reproduced electrornagnetically as sounds by the loud-speaker 83.

It is important to note that these sounds have a inaterially difierent character from what would be produced from a microphone and amplifier if the microphone were juxtaposed to the vibrating reeds. In the latter instance, the sounds produced acoustically by the instrument would be conveyed to the microphone by compressional waves through the air and through the instrument body. These sounds would of course be similar in nature and quality to those acoustically produced by the instrument. The sounds produced by loud-speaker 83 have an entirely different quality because of the electrical induction effect. The electrical sound quality due to the altered overtone is more pure than the acoustical quality.

In order to prevent sustaining of the tones produced by the loud-speaker after the air stream is cut oil by releasing the played key, it is necessary to provide the switch 56 which operates to deactivate the amplifying circuit.

Under certain conditions it may be desired to sustain the tones produced after the air stream is cut off. Such toneswould be produced for a short period of time by the continued vibration of the reed whose air stream was cut off. These tones would have either a rapidly or slowly decreasing amplitude depending upon the size of the reed and for certain musical works the sustaining of these tonesfrn'ay be desirable. This may be accomplished by inserting a spacer member (not shown) between switch contacts '54 and 55 to hold them permanently open. This would be equivalent to holding down the sustaining pedal for the entire keyboard of a piano.

A more satisfactory way of providing selective sustainiagor 'n'o'tes would be to hold switch ssopen by a spacer 'eniploy switch '86 which is a manually operable switch disposed in series with the. coils. This switch may be selectively closed to sustain tones and opened to cut off tones at will in a manner analogous to the middle or in- 4 dividual note sustaining pedals of pianos, harps, and the like.

A source 88 of DC. current may be connected to the coils 60 and 62 by opening switch 86 and closing switch 89 in series with the current source. This current source may be employed to restore magnetization to the reeds. In general use of this magnetization current will not be required, but in instruments which are played upon frequently a reduction in magnetization of the reeds will be noted. The magnetization may be restored also by stroking the reeds with a strong ma net but the current source 88 provides a more convenientmagnetization means.

A source of A.C. current (not shown), in ultra sonic range may also be connected to the coils 60 and 62 in order to allow the reeds to frequency modulate the same.

If desired, the source of DC. current may be left permanently connected to the coils to aply a magnetizing bias current to the coils continuously for retaining the reeds in magnetized condition. As a further alternative; a strong permanent magnet (not shown) may be disposed in the vicinity of the reeds to retain them in a magnetized state.

In Figs. 6 arid 7 is shown another coil arrangement in which each reed plate 7t) and the pair of feeds 72 thereon is surrounded by its own individual coil 61. The ends of the coils 61 may be all connected in series as shown in Fig. 9. For this arrangement a separate switch 56 will a be required for each coil 61 connected in shorting lines 63 across the ends of the coil. The several switches will be disposed for manual operation by the player. To employ this arrangement switch 56 will be deactivated or held permanently open. If desired, these switches 56 may be disposed for actiiation by the keys 4t), 42, rods 36, 38, or valve members 24, 26. This arrangement may be desirable if it is found that the coil arrangement of Figs. 4 and 8 results in objectionable sustaining of tones. These latter tones may be generated when the instrument is played very rapidly so that reeds which are still vibrating when the air stream is cut ofi, induce voltages in the coils 60, 62 when other reeds are being played.

The diagram of Fig. l0 illustrates a parallel arrangement for the reed plates carrying individual coils 61. Switches 56 are in series with the coils which are connected across busbars 9 0, 92. The busbar's are-connected to the input of amplifier 82. The switches 5'6 would be normally open and would be closed manually selectively when the associated key is depressed. These switches may be operated by the keys 40,- 42, valve rods 36, 38 or the valve members 24, 26 individually.

The reed'plates are preferably made of non-magnetic material such as aluminum, brass, or'other metals, plastic,

- etc.

While I have illustrated and'described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what :I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent-is-z l. A musical instrument, comprising a sound box, a plurality of metal plates carried in spaced disposition on said box, each of said plates carrying a pair of vibratable reeds, wire coils surrounding said plates, said reeds being magnetized and inducing voltages in said eoils when the reeds are vibrated, switch means connected across ends of the coils for selectively opening and short circuiting :the coils, there being an electrical amplifier connected to the ends of the coils in parallel with said switch means, and sound reproducing means connected to said amplifier for converting said voltages into sounds, said switch means comprising a rod pivotally mounted on said sound box, a movable switch contact carried by said rod and a-fixed contact carried by the sound box and normally "closed with said movable contact, said sound box having a plurality of sound chambers therein, valve members pivotally mounted over openings in said sound box, said openings communicating With said chambers, and keys connected to the valve members for actuating said valve members, said rod being operated by said keys for pivotal movement thereby.

2. A musical instrument, comprising a sound box, a plurality of metal plates carried in spaced disposition on said box, each of said plates carrying a pair of vibratable reeds, wire coils surrounding said plates, said reeds being magnetized and inducing voltages in said coils when the reeds are vibrated, switch means connected across ends of the coils for selectively opening and short circuiting the coils, there being an electrical amplifier connected to the ends of the coils in parallel with said switch means, and sound reproducing means connected to said amplifier for converting said voltages into sounds, said switch means comprising a rod pivotally mounted on said sound box, a movable switch contact carried by said rod and a fixed contact carried by the sound box and normally closed with said movable contact, said sound box having a plurality of sound chambers therein, valve members pivotally mounted over openings in said sound box, said openings communicating with said chambers, and keys disposed for selectively actuating the valve members, said rod being operated by said keys for pivotal movement thereby, spring means biasing the rod to close said movable and fixed contacts, a plurality of bars respectively connecting the keys and valve members for actuation thereby, and camming members carried by said rod and engaged with said bars whereby actuation of said keys selectively opens said switch contacts.

3. A musical instrument, comprising a sound box, a plurality of metal plates carried in spaced disposition on said box, each of said plates carrying a pair of vibratable reeds, wire coils surrounding said plates, said reeds being magnetized and inducing voltages in said coils when the reeds are vibrated, switch means connected across ends of the coils for selectively opening and short circuiting the coils, there being an electrical amplifier connected to the ends of the coils in parallel with said switch means, and sound reproducing means connected to said amplifier for converting said voltages into sounds, said switch means comprising a rod pivotally mounted on said sound box, a movable switch contact carried by said rod and a fixed contact carried by the sound box and normally closed with said movable contact, said sound box having a plurality of sound chambers therein, valve members pivotally mounted over openings in said sound box, said openings communicating with said chambers, and keys disposed for selectively actuating the valve members, said rod being operated by said keys for pivotal movement thereby, spring means biasing the rod to close said movable and fixed contacts, a plurality of bars respectively connecting the keys and valve members for actuation thereby, and camming members carried by said rod and engaged with said bars whereby actuation of said keys selectively opens said switch contacts, each of said coils encircling a separate group of said plates, all of said coils being connected in parallel with each other.

4. A musical instrument, comprising a sound box, a plurality of metal plates carried in spaced disposition on said box, each of said plates carrying a pair of vibratable reeds, wire coils surrounding said plates, said reeds being magnetized and inducing voltages in said coils when the reeds are vibrated, switch means connected across ends of the coils for selectively opening and short circuiting the coils, there being an electrical amplifier connected to the ends of the coils in parallel with said switch means, and sound reproducing means connected to said amplifier for converting said voltages into sounds, said switch means comprising a rod pivotally mounted on said sound box, a movable switch contact carried by said rod and a fixed contact carried by the sound box and normally closed with said movable contact, said sound box having a plurality of sound chambers therein, valve members pivotally mounted over openings in said sound box, said openings communicating with said chambers, and keys disposed for selectively actuating the valve members, said rod being operated by said keys. for pivotal movement thereby, spring means biasing the rod to close said movable and fixed contacts, a plurality of bars respectively connecting the keys and valve members for actuation thereby, and camming members carried by said rod and engaged with said bars whereby actuation of said keys selectively open said switch contacts, each of said coils encircling a separate group of said plates, all of said coils being connected in parallel with each other, and direct current biasing means in circuit with said coils for continuously maintaining magnetization of said reeds.

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